Door knob contained electric signal structure



Feb. 2, 1965 F. A. BALDINELLI 3,168,730

nooR RNoE CONTAINED ELECTRIC SIGNAL STRUCTURE Filed May 23, 1963 INVENTOR. Fred A. Buldinelli United States Patent O M ce 3,163,730 DUUR KNSE CNTAINEB EIECTRIC SIGNAL STRUCTURE Fred A. Baldinelh, 135 Atherton St., Milton, Mass., assigner of thirty-hva percent to Anthony Gaiinccn, Cambridge, Mass., and ten percent to Rocco Shelli, Woburn, Mass.

Fiied May 23, 1963, Ser. No. 282,313 2 Ciaims. (C1. 340-392) This invention relates to a signalling device such as a doorbell which is completely enclosed in the doorknobs of a door. It is an object of the invention to provide a compact, convenient and inexpensive signalling assembly which is entirely contained in the knobs of a door, a push button being provided in one of the knobs.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the drawing, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a doorknob assembly containing an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE l; Y

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of part of one of the knobs containing the batteries and bell.

The inside knob of a doorknob assembly may be made .in two parts 1 and 2, which may conveniently be screw threaded together so that access to the interior can readily be had. The detachable part 1 of this doorknob is provided with a number of apertures 15 .which are covered by a screen 3 on the inside of the knob part 1. Within the knob part 2 may be mounted small ilash batteries 4 and a vibrator audible sound producing means 5 which can be actuated by electric current. The knob 1, 2 is mounted in the usual manner on the inner end of the shank 6 which extends through the door 7. The outer knob 8 is mounted on the threaded outer end 9 of the shank. The shank is hollow, having a bore 17 which extends from end to end thereof. Through this bore ex- Federated Feb. 2, 1965 A tended insulated wires 10 which are connected to the batteries 4 and vibrator audible sound producing means 5 in the knob 1, 2 and to a push button mounted in the knob 8. An insulating member 12 is mounted in the knob S flush with the outer surface theerof. A metal member 13 is attached to the inner end of this insulating member in position to be touched by a switch element 16 when pressed inward by push button 14 against the pressure of a spring 11 of non-metallic material. When the button 14 is pressed to close the circuit, the vibrator audible sound producing means 5 sounds through the screen 3 and apertures 15.

This signalling assembly can be quickly and easily applied to an existing door without requiring any house wiring. The batteries are easily renewed when required.

I claim:

, 1. A signalling assembly for a door comprising a shank which is hollow from end to end, an outer knob mounted on the outer end of said shank and an inner knob mounted on the inner end of said shank, said knobs being hollow, the inner knob having a removable part for access to the interior, batteries and a vibrator audible sound producing means mounted within the inner knob, a push button switch mounted in the outer knob, and wires operatively connecting said push button switch, batteries, and vibrator audible sound producing means, said wires extending through the hollow shank.

2. A combination as described in claim l, the removable portion of the inner knob having a plurality of apen tures therethrough and a screen on the inner surface thereof covering said apertures.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,809 Pidgeon Oct. 12, 1915 2,301,720 Tyminski Nov. 10, 1952 2,829,257 Root Apr. l, 1958 

1. A SIGNALLING ASSEMBLY FOR A DOOR COMPRISING A SHANK WHICH IS HOLLOW FROM END TO END, AN OUTER KNOB MOUNTED ON THE OUTER END OF SAID SHANK AND AN INNER KNOB MOUNTED ON THE INNER END OF SAID SHANK, SAID KNOBS BEING HOLLOW, THE INNER KNOB HAVING A REMOVABLE PART FOR ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR, BATTERIES AND A VIBRATOR AUDIBLE SOUND PRODUCING MEANS MOUNTED WITHIN THE INNER KNOB, A PUSH BUTTON SWITCH MOUNTED IN THE OUTER KNOB, AND WIRES OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID PUSH BUTTON SWITCH, BATTERIES, AND VIBRATOR AUDIBLE SOUND PRODUCING MEANS, SAID WIRES EXTENDING THROUGH THE HOLLOW SHANK. 